Moving to the end of the hallway, Chun gets a clear view of an immense chamber supported by massive wooden pillars. Four statues stand in the corners of the room, reaching nearly as high as the ceiling, each depicting a different creature — a brightly scaled carp, a sly fox, a leaping hare, and a coiled imperial dragon. Small flights of steps provide access to corridors to the south and east, while three alcoves extend into the west wall.

Valrar dodges the two exploding golems with practiced ease, but his wounds from being grabbed remain. He pulls a simple wand from his pack. "These used to be life-savers in the early days. Now you might go through one every day if you aren't careful...can someone use this on me?"

After exploring a pair of galleries lined with tapestries long rotted to tatters, the party finds their way to large ballroom room.

An elevated wooden stage fills the center of this impromptu training room, approximately two feet off the floor. Several exotic weapon displays line the partitioned walls around the stage, and the musty smell of sweat hangs heavy in the air.

A top the platform, a powerfully built bare-chested man leads six other similarly dressed rough-looking but disciplined warriors in a training drill. Apparently the earlier alarm and the battle with the constructs a few rooms over wasn't enough to stir them from their drills as none are armed or armored.

"I knew this deal with the Aspis would bring us nothing but ruin", the instructor says in frustration as the party enters. "Who are you and what's your business in the imperial ruins?" he demands.

"Sure, sure," Valrar says as he readies his blade. "Might leave some scarring, you'll look a lot less pretty for a bit, but no blood."

Not sure whether I should refrain from using Destroy Identity if we're restricted to nonlethal, it doesn't kill but it can hamper or render a guy comatose for a little while without the right healing. Your call, GM?

Exploring further the party passes through several more ruined halls before coming across a sealed chamber labeled 'Imperial Vault' in delicate Tian script. Curiously, it appears the Aspis and the Five Storms haven't forced their way inside yet.